The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has launched its first Annual Research Week with the unveiling of two landmark documents designed to strengthen the university’s research culture and accountability.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, presented the Research Innovations and Information Handbook, while the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Architect Sonny Echono, unveiled the Research Output Report 2021–2024.
The TETFund’s Executive Secretary, represented by the former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, praised NOUN for producing impactful research despite its unique structure as an open and decentralised institution.
Echono stated that the report shows that the university is contributing knowledge at the same standard as other leading universities locally and globally.
He described research as the backbone of national development and warned that Nigeria must invest more deliberately in its knowledge economy to remain competitive.
The Executive Secretary listed chronic underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, weak linkages with industry, poor remuneration for academics, and widespread “knowledge waste” as obstacles to effective research in the country.
He outlined TETFund’s recent interventions, including support for prototype development, artificial intelligence-driven research tools, innovation hubs, multipurpose laboratories, and the sponsorship of more than 26,000 PhD candidates.
Echono also noted Nigeria’s participation in the Horizon Europe programme and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in universities across the country, adding that Nigeria needs a deliberate synergy between academia, industry and government for research to drive sustainable development.
Earlier while declaring the ceremony open, NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said that since assuming office in 2021, he has prioritised building a research culture at the university, citing the introduction of multimillion-naira grants, a stronger postgraduate school, and staff sponsorships for academic conferences.
Peters praised the Directorate of Research Administration under Prof. Ayodele for “being true to the mandate” given at its establishment, adding that the directorate has managed resources prudently through a 5% allocation model.
The Vice-Chancellor cited recent examples of staff producing research papers, arguing that the impact of these reforms is already evident.
He also highlighted opportunities in data science and learning analytics, stressing that NOUN’s vast student datasets offer unique potential for innovation in open and distance education.
Delivering the second keynote address, Director, Centre of Excellence for Emerging Technologies Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, USA , Prof. Ibrahim Katampe, stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable development without knowledge creation, innovation, and effective dissemination of research outcomes.
He argued that research should no longer be treated as an abstract academic exercise but as the backbone of national growth and competitiveness.
According to him, universities like NOUN must align their research with pressing national challenges in agriculture, public health, education, energy, and technology.
He highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research, urging scholars to break out of silos and embrace collaboration across fields, and called on universities to deepen partnerships with industry, as innovation thrives when academia and the private sector work together.
While giving his opening remarks, Director of the Directorate of Research Administration, Prof. Sami Ayodele, described the programme as a celebration of inquiry, discovery, and innovation as it signals NOUN’s push to move beyond its reputation as an open and distance learning institution and strengthen its research footprint.
Ayodele noted that the research week would showcase ongoing projects, foster collaboration across disciplines, and inspire new ideas among faculties and students.
He commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, and the planning committee for supporting the initiative, stressing that NOUN’s commitment to research is both “a priority and an investment.”
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